Sweet Kingdom hearts this chapter is a big one! Hope you enjoy this one, but on a side note, uploads may no longer be weekly due to needs at work. I will try to keep the weekly upload, but i make no promises.
Chapter Text
Chapter 12: Mad King Gangrel
"Where are they?" Flavia asks irritably in the throne room. She had arrived just hours ago after seeing the Feroxi army back across the border, half expecting a party to be held in Emmeryns rescue. And yet there was nothing. "They should have arrived here long before me. Could something have happened?" Her musings are interrupted when the doors to the throne open abruptly. Turning around, she breathes a breath of relief at seeing the Shepherds walk into the room, only to tilt her head in confusion. Where was Emmeryn, and why did everyone look so down? "Prince Chrom, full glad am I to see you all safe, but where is Emmeryn?"
Chrom did not respond. Instead, he slowly walked past her along with Lissa towards a window as the rest of the Shepherds slowly entered the room, not a word spoken between any of them, until the faint cries from Lissa slowly filled the room. A pit formed in Flavia's stomach as she turned to look at Robin, the tactician's face glued to the ground in sadness and shame.
"All that… For nothing…" He numbly says as his skin seems to pale. It was then Flavia realised why everyone looked so down. Emmeryn had been killed. Just like that, a fire that had been burning in her seemed to be snuffed out. She was the leader of Ferox and allied to Ylisse, yet had failed to keep their leader, an emissary of PEACE, safe.
"I should have died before allowing the exalt to be captured. I have failed as a knight…." Frederick mumbles to himself as he leans against a pillar. Sully and Stahl were standing next to him, equally distraught at the loss of Emmeryn. Cordelia looked on the verge of tears as Sumia looked at Chrom with deep sadness. Sora, Kairi and the Guardians stood off by themselves, yet their sadness could still be felt.
"We failed." Aqua says numbly as Terra rubs her shoulder. "We had one job to protect the light of Ylisse, and yet we failed to keep Emmeryn safe."
"How did this even happen?" Roxas asks with anger in his eyes. "How could a bolt of lightning cause a shared of bone the size of a horse to shatter, and at the precise moment Emmeryn was standing away from us? It just doesn't seem possible."
"It is possible that it wasn't even natural lighting." Riku says with a grim face, drawing the Guardians attention to him. "It could have been a storm conjured up by Maleficent. You and Aqua had encountered her doing such things before Aqua. Do you think this was her doing?" Sora looks at Riku with a curious look before shaking his head.
"No, I don't think it was her. Remember, she was the one who gathered up all the Princess of Heart last time, so she should know better than anyone what would happen if one of the pure lights was lost." He turns hard eyes on all around him. "Even if Maleficent is more hungry for power than ever before, I don't think even she would do this."
"Even if we do find out who it was who did it, or if it was just a freak accident, it won't change the present." Lea says grimly before looking over to Chrom and Lissa. "Especially for those two." No one said a word as they looked sadly at the grieving siblings, Lissa crying into her brother's arms as Chrom stared out the window, unreadable emotions lining his face. Finally, Sora and Kairi look at each other before walking over to the siblings, Robin just ahead of them.
"Chrom." Robin says with a hesitant voice, unsure if Chrom is angry at him. He felt relieved when he turned to look at him with calm eyes, yet it did nothing to loosen the knot in his chest. "I'm… I'm so sorry." Robin bows his head in shame, not feeling the will to look him in the eye. "I should have factored in the weather and other variables. My plan just, wasn't enough."
"We are sorry too." Sora says while bowing his head at Chrom along with Kairi. "We should have done something, anything, to save Emmeryn, but…" the words die in his voice. What could he say to a grieving bother and sister who had just seen their eldest sibling die?
"You did your best, Sora and Kairi." Chrom says with a calm voice, with no hint of anger or resentment. "You did all that you could given the situation. And Robin…" He places a hand on his shoulder, causing the tactician to look up at him. "It's not your fault about the weather. No one can predict it. And your plan was more than enough. It managed to save Emmeryn from whatever Gangrel had planned and almost got her to the carriages. No one else could have come up with a plan like that." Chrom then stepped away from the three and Lissa and walked up next to a pillar, clenching a fist in anger. "It's my failures that haunt me now. Gods, I was just so powerless!" he yells while punching the pillar, thankfully not leaving a mark or crack from the impact.
"It's not your fault either, Chrom." Kairi says as they walk up to him. "You could not have known that would have happened." Chrom doesn't listen to her but instead leans against the column, eyes firmly downcast. Nothing she or anyone else could say would seem to break him out of it—all but one.
"Chrom… Listen to me. Look at me." Robin suddenly speaks with determination in his voice. Chrom abides but doesn't speak a word. "I was powerless once, too, remember? Back when you found me lying about in the field with no memory? And yes, I don't think anyone will be able to match your sister's legacy, but you don't have to do it alone. You have me, Lissa, and everyone else here to support you. If you fall, we'll be there to pull you back up. When you fight for your sister's ideals, we'll be by your side. So you can still give the people hope while still being true to yourself."
"And what if I can't?" Chrom asks as he straightens his posture. "What if I'm not worthy of her ideals? What if I drag everyone down with me, Robin?"
"If you're not worthy, then you'll keep going at it until you are." Robin replies while placing a hand on his shoulder, no one noticing bags forming under Robin's eyes. "And if we all do fall down, well, that's what friends are for, isn't it?"
"He right, you know." Sora replies while placing an arm around Kairi. "You helped Kairi and me when we first arrived here in Ylisse and brought us in without question."
"You may not have been a ruler, but you still championed Emmeryns values, going out of your way to save anyone you could." Kairi adds with a warm smile. "You may have been showing it differently, but you were still holding her beliefs at the front."
"That's right!" A sudden cry from Nowi startles Chrom as the Manakete runs towards him, her usual smile plastered on her face. "Just like them, I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you."
"You saved my ma an' village from the brigand's yer lordship. I would be a fool if I didn't repay your kindness." Donnel comments from the back of the room. Anna looks at Chrom before putting on her signature smile.
"You not only saved me but my sister and the village she was protecting. You even helped my fellow merchants as well. What kind of merchant would that make m if I failed to repay that debt?"
Tharja seemed to materialise from the shadows near Robin, who surprisingly didn't react in his usual manner and seemed to be slumping a bit. "You gave me your trust, and now you have mine… For the time being."
"Were you unworthy, I would have left long ago." Lon'qu comments with arms crossed and a rare smile on his face.
"It took great courage and charisma to unite all of us." Virion complements with his usual flare. "…I knew I possessed such talents, but clearly, you do as well!" Most eye-rolled at the comment, a few giving some chuckles.
"Yeah, we all look up to you! You're like a hero to us." Chrom looks over to Ricken, touched by the young mages comment, while the guardians send a knowing look to Sora. Chrom wasn't the only one who was like a hero to them. Chrom looks around the room, gazing upon the warm eyes of all gathered, as he feels a weight lifted from his heart before going all a gratifying smile.
"Thank you, everyone. Your words mean more than you could know." He closes his eyes before a frown forms on his face, and determination steeled in his eyes. "My Shepherds… My warriors… There is still work to be done. Gangrel must be stopped so peace can once again reign in Ylisse. Will you help me?"
"You can count me in!" Lissa exclaims as he wipes away her tears, sadness replaced by anger. "I'm tired of crying all the time! It's time to start punchin' stuff!" The rest of the Shepherds each express their agreements, all eager to bring the Mad King down from his throne. Chrom smiles in appreciation to them before turning to look at Sora and the guardians.
"Do you even have to ask Chrom? You already know our answer." Sora says while placing his hands behind his head. The rest of the Shepherds each give Chrom their smiles and nods, stating that they will be there to the end.
"…Thank you all. Truly. You honour me with your loyalty." Chrom says with gratitude. "I will not fail again. We shall show Gangrel our answer to all the pain he has caused. The Mad King must be stopped!" A yell erupts from the Shepherds in agreement with Chrom's proclamation, with Flavia giving the entire Feroxi army over to Chrom for the battle, along with the remains of the Ylissean army. Even Olivia wanted to join the Shepherds, stating that Emmeryn once did her a kindness and would offer them her strength even if all she could do was dance. Yet throughout all of this, Robin was having trouble staying on his feet and was using a pillar for support until Ven noticed.
"Hey Robin, are you okay?" the blond myrmidon asks, drawing everyone's attention to the tactician, who now was starting to sweat and was looking more pail than ever. Robin could barely lift his head to look at Ven before saying he didn't feel well even since they arrived before dropping to the floor. Instantly everyone rushed around him as Lissa, Naminé, Libra, and Maribelle checked him over.
"Oh, this is not good. Robin has caught a fever." Lissa proclaims with alarm. "He won't be able to device any strategies while he's like this, and I don't think Gangrel will let us wait until he gets better."
"Why didn't you say you were not feeling well?" Aqua asks as she places a hand on his head, feeling the heat building up. "We could have already worked to counter it."
"I didn't think it was worth mentioning, and besides…." Robin replies before reaching into his coat and pulling out several rolls of paper. "Who said I didn't plan for this type of situation?" He smiles weakly before handing the rolls to Chrom. "Those contain battle plans for several situations against Plegian on the open field. In the event, I would be unavailable."
"Did you write these while you were also planning the rescue for Emmeryn?" Sora asks, dumbfounded. An expression that encompassed the whole room when the tactician weekly replied in turn. "You are crazy, Robin. I bet you even have more plans stored away. It's a wonder you haven't collapsed from overworking."
"I agree. You should have taken the time to rest. But even so, Robin… you never sees to amaze me." Chrom replies fondly before lowering himself to his level. "Get some rest, my friend. By the time you have recovered, Gangrel will trouble us no more. And we will all return alive." Robin nods weakly before Terra and Riku help him to his feet and escort him to his room as the rest of the Shepherds leave the throne room. They have a lot to prepare for.
"Thanks for helping me with the staves, Naminé. I was beginning to worry we wouldn't have enough." While placing down a mend staff next to a row of other staves, Lissa says while Naminé holds onto a Physic staff. "Do you think we have enough?" Naminé glances over the pile of staves, thinking about the upcoming battle, and could only sigh in sadness.
"I don't know, Lissa. We are about to march into a battle, not a skirmish. Who knows how many will be grievously injured, or die, both on our side and theirs. Even if we do have enough, we won't be able to save everyone." Naminé looks at her fellow cleric with sadness before walking over to place a hand on her arm.
"All we can do is our best. It's all we can do." Naminé smiles and nods at the blond, thanking her for the advice before asking if she had seen Chrom anywhere. Lissa only shook her head with a huff. "I don't know. All he said was that he had something important to tend to before rushing off. It would have been nice if he told me what." Naminé gave an inquisitive hum before noticing Stahl sitting on a crate not far away, reading a letter.
"Hey, what's Stahl reading over there?" Lissa looks over to see Stahl, equally curious before saying that she would find out before walking over to him, unaware of the slight smirk Naminé was giving her. Stahl didn't even seem to notice Lissa coming up to him before she latterly right next to him.
"What are you reading, Stahl?" her question caught the cavalier by surprise as he almost fell off the crate, causing the princess to giggle at his antics. He recomposes himself quickly before showing Lissa the letter."
"It's a letter from my brother. He's thanking me for the butterfly scales I sent." Lissa looks at the letter eagerly, only to find herself struggling to read the supposedly written words.
"Ye gods, what dreadful penmanship! It's nothing at all like yours." She quickly looked away from the cavalier as a slight tinge of pink filled her cheeks, while a similar hint was on Stahl's as he bashfully rubbed the back of his head.
"Heh. My brother is a rugged, no-nonsense sort. He doesn't much care for calligraphy. But look here!" he opens up the crate he was sitting on, filled to the brim with tonic jars. "He sent along more of his secret stomach tonic. This new recipe uses the butterfly scales. It's twice as effective as before!"
"So the errand he sent you on was actually for your benefit?" Lissa asks, surprised.
"Apparently so! It's a good reminder—brothers don't always say and do the right thing... But in the end, or when it matters, they always have our interests in mind." Stahl's face forms into a nostalgic smile as he thinks about his brother, but Lissa has different thoughts as she turns to face him.
"Pffft! Not MY brother! I doubt he ever thinks of me at all!" she says in a humph and frown until her face turns gloomy. "Unless it's to tell me that I'm childish and I should learn to grow up or whatever. He's too busy thinking about running a country and handling a war to worry about his little sister..." her face considerably saddened, thinking back to how they were always close and yet seemed to be drifting apart. Stahl frowns at Lissa's comment walking up to her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I assure you, that is not the case! At all! Chrom cares about you very much. And who can blame him? If I had a charming sister like you, I'd never leave your side!" Lissa's frown immediately left as she looked at Stahl, her cheeks turning ever more rosy as Stahl's comment echoed in her mind.
"Y-you think I'm charming?" she asks shyly. Before reiterating that he thinks so, Stahl looks at her in confusion before asking if it was strange. Lissa shakes her head, saying that she wasn't used to hearing such praise, especially from a fine gentleman like him, making Stahl blush just as hard as her. It reaffirms that he only spoke the truth to her. All the while, neither of them noticed the growing smirk on Lissa's face.
Won't Chrom be interested to hear about this, I wonder? She thinks to herself before walking away, only to realise one thing that causes her smirk to melt away. I'm starting to act like Xion… dear Hearts, help me…
"So, why are we here again?" Lea asks Roxas to his far left as Xion and Ventus stand to his right and far right. The former dual-wielder sighs irritably before looking at his first friend with a sour look.
"I already told you before, Axel. We are trying to help Frederick overcome his fears with Panne's help. We are acting as points for Panne to measure how close she needs to be before Frederick breaks." Lea, or as some still call him, Axel, shrugs before looking over to Panne as she stands near Ventus.
"All right, let's try this yet again. Now, if I stand here..." Panne moves over to Xion, inching closer to Frederick. No response, a good sign. Taking that, she moves to Lea and again, no reaction from Frederick. Although Roxas could swear, he saw his knees shake a little. Panne then moves to Roxas, but it is then that Frederick's will broke.
"NOT ONE STEP CLOSER, FOUL NETHER CREATURE!" he yells at the top of his lungs before catching himself as Panne reverts to normal as the Guardians move up to him.
"I think we might be stuck." Panne deadpans as Xion heaves a sigh. They had managed to get this close, and yet nothing they did seemed to get past this final hurdle. Frederick agreed, saying that it had improved, yet they couldn't seem to get past this. "Perhaps it's time to take your treatment to the next level." The five humans look at Panne with confusion until she suddenly turns into her beast form. Instantly the four guardians step back as Frederick stands still as a statue.
"Panne…" Ventus asks, slightly worried, "What are you doing?" Panne simple looks at Ventus with a rabbit smirk and gleam in her red eyes.
"The next and final level." Frederick was now visibly shaking in his armour as he started to walk backwards, a shaking hand raising in a plea.
"I DEFINITELY do not approve of—" He begins only to find himself suddenly underneath a giant rabbit as Panne pounces on him. Lea, Roxas, Xion and Ventus look on slack-jawed as they watch Frederick poke his head out from underneath Panne, visibly unhappy with her laying on him like this. "Y-you...leapt upon me..." Panne turns to look at him, looking very smug with herself.
"I had grown bored of walking around in the distance while you cursed my name." she casually comments to him, causing the four guardians to burst into laughter at the scene finally. How could they not? Frederick, the all strong, high and might Great Knight, is being sat on by a giant rabbit. Frederick shoots a betrayed look at the four as Panne continue to look at him. "How are you feeling? Aren't you afraid?" Fredrick looked ready to explode, only for his face to soften as he took in his predicament.
"Strangely, no. I'm not afraid at all." Panne smiles at seeing Frederick answer; her treatment worked like a charm. However, the feeling of Frederick caressing her fur didn't make her feel slightly uncomfortable. "Gods, I've never noticed how soft and beautiful your fur is." And his comments were not helping in any way. She was happy that being in her beast form prevented her from showing her plush as she looked away from him.
"Good. All cured."
"Yes, yes, of course." Frederick replies, seemingly in a trance as he looks around him until he notices one of Panne's ears near him. "No more fear for... Oh, look at these floppy ears! They're so cute!" he reaches out to grab one, unintentional pulling it down and yanking on Panne's head.
"OWCH!" instantly, Panne turns back to normal while looking at Frederick with a very sour look, although her blush was now visible if now faint. The four guardians could not help but continue to laugh at the scene as Panne admonishes Frederick for the ear pulling, for which he humbly apologises over and over.
"How are you doing, Cordelia?" Kairi asks gently as she and Aqua walk with the Pegasus Knight along one of the Feroxi corridors in the castle. They had just checked their supplies and saw they had ample weapons for the coming battle, yet the two guardians could still see the pain in Cordelia. Said knight looks at Kairi and admits that she has had several restless nights of sleep, most had been of her fellow Pegasus sisters as the Heartless, but now Emmeryns death had joined them.
"It hurts to see them in my sleep, crying for help before morphing into those things." She says with a heavy heart. Aqua and Kairi looked at her in sympathy before Aqua placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know how it is to be haunted by visions of close friends." Aqua admits to the knight, who looks at her in shock. "For a long time, I was trapped in a place where I was haunted by visions of Terra and Ven, taunting me at my inability to save them, to protect them."
"It was the same with me." Cordelia looks at Kairi as she gives the knight a sad smile. "While I had been with Sora initially, once we had defeated the one who burned our village to the ground, I stayed behind in a new village while he left to find Riku and the others. All the while, I had to stay behind and wait for them to come home." Aqua nods sadly at Kairi before looking back at the knight.
"Our pain may have been different in cause, but it is similar in hurt, Cordelia. What you need more than anything is time to heal. And the one thing that will help with that is giving your sisters a proper resting place. As we did to our fallen Master." Cordelia looks between the two, giving them a thankful look. They had ever helped ease the pain she felt in her heart at the loss of her siblings. Even Naminé had taken some time to help her with her pain. Just as she was about to thank the two, however, a certain someone caught her attention, and almost instantly, her steel gaze.
"Gaius! Isn't that the same outfit you were wearing yesterday?" she exclaims in disbelief before walking up to said thief. All the while, Kairi and Aqua watch her go in confusion. Gaius, for his part, freezes on the spot before turning to look at her with slight fear as Cordelia walks up to him.
"Yeah, but it was CLEAN yesterday. So one extra day won't kill me, right?" Gaius defended, to which Cordelia gave a reluctant nod, commenting that he looked much better than the last time, but one thing still stuck out to her.
"And have you combed your hair?" she suddenly asks, catching the thief off the back foot. He replied with a no but again defended himself that he dunked his head in a watering trough, missing Cordelia's agape look, which soon turned to resolute steel. "By the way, don't think you can run off again in the middle of our conversation. I have my Pegasus saddled and waiting, and we WILL hunt you down."
"Crivens. Are all your chats this happy and carefree, or am I a special case?" Gaius asks as he accepts defeat against Cordelia, who pulls out a pair of scissors from her belt before motioning him to come over to her. "I suppose I'm not getting out of this, am I?" her grin and mischievous look was all the answer he needed. "All right, do your worst. But you still haven't explained why you're so obsessed with my grooming." As he sat down in front of her, Cordelia explained that he needed to look good since he was one of Chrom's staunchest and valuable friends. "Staunch ally, eh? I like the sound of that. All right, message received. I'll dress like a dandy to not make Chrom look bad. Oh, and I like the sides short if you'd be so kind."
"Already on it." Cordelia replies before she suddenly remembers something and reaches into her belt again. "Oh, and before I forget, use this soap when you launder your clothes. You have stains dating back to the dark ages, but this should get them out." Gaius takes the soap and sighs a little before putting it into his coat pocket, the same one that once had the turkey leg in it before Cordelia threw it to a dog.
"Alright. I'll wash them so bright, it'll hurt your eyes to even look at me..." Cordelia replies with a scoff that they will see as she continues to cut his hair, while Gaius asks if she could show some trust to their staunch ally. Cordelia simply replied with a smile that trust is earned, especially on Laundry duty.
All the while, Aqua and Kairi looked on very amused before turning to look at each other with slight smirks. "Oh, I am so going to be like that to Terra." Aqua says mischievously that Kairi nods eagerly, already having some plans for Sora. Said boys were good with cleanliness, but they could be better in their eyes. But behind the smirking, they could tell that the wound on Cordelia's heart was mending, and hopefully, the nightmares would stop as well.
"Ricken, are you still angry?" Nowi looks at Ricken, slightly scared and worried at the same time. Not that long ago, Ricken had exploded into anger the likes of which she had never seen. It was only thanks to Isa being nearby that things didn't escalate any further than they did. Thankfully, when he looked at her, Nowi could see the anger had left, and all that was left was disappointment.
"No. I guess not." He says bluntly, earning a breath of relief from the Manakete. She states that she had never seen him so angry before, which scared her a bit. Ricken looked at the ground sadly, ashamed at scaring her like that. "Yeah. I'm sorry I shouted like that. I just sort of... snapped."
"What did those townspeople do to set you off like that?" She asks gently, not wanting to risk Ricken losing his temper again. Thankfully, when he turned to answer, she could see no anger in his eyes.
"They were saying bad things about Chrom." He says bluntly before gritting his teeth. "It really made my blood boil! Don't they realize how much he's sacrificed and risked so they can live in peace?" Nowi nods her head at him, saying how unfair it was, especially after the loss of his sister. "No, it isn't. But I was wrong to be so angry. There are ungrateful fools everywhere. I can't afford to lose my temper whenever someone says something dumb." Nowi smiles at him before grasping one of his hands in her own, startling him briefly.
"I don't blame you one bit! Especially when I think how much you admire Chrom. If someone said bad things about a person I liked, I'd probably just eat 'em." Ricken chuckled nervously at Nowi's comment, asking if she really thinks so about his admiration for Chrom. "Definitely! You're the kind of person who wants to protect people. ...Just like me." She mutters the last bit shyly as a tinge of pink crosses her face. Ricken chuckles a bit before stating how he will do his best. "Well, anyway. It looks like we have another secret, don't we?"
"Er, right." Ricken says bashfully while rubbing the back of his head. If you can avoid telling anyone about this, I'd be grateful." Nowi chuckles while tilting to the side, saying she will since he kept one for her. Ricken gave out a laugh at the comment, hoping that they don't start saving any more from the rest, a sentiment that Nowi agrees to before joining him in laughter
Walking away from the archery grounds, Virion let out a tired sigh. "My word, Sir Roxas can be a determined warrior. To think he would push me this far in training with the bow." He casts a glance back into the range, seeing the blond switch his fighting style to that of his sword as he spars with Lon'qu. "He is certainly determined." However, his musing is cut short when he hears the tunes of someone singing away to herself. Curiosity took hold and transfixed, and he followed the melody to find Oliva dancing away to herself in privacy.
"Tra-la-la-la-LAAAAAA!~" she twirls around in place while humming a tune to herself, unaware of Virion looking at her transfixed. Although, he could tell that the dance she was doing was not meant to be alone. Deciding to make his presence known, Virion steps forward, announcing himself to her. Olivia stops dancing before jumping away, one hand covering her chest instinctively while the other reaches for a steel sword next to her. "Eek! Wh-who's there?!" She looked around rapidly before seeing Virion, who held his arms up in surrender.
"My apologies, fair maiden. I had no wish to startle you." He says assuringly to her. Olivia visibly relaxes while putting her sword away, stating that it was only him in relief. Virion lowers his hands as he calms as well, now not needing to worry about Olivia sticking her sword into his gut.
"It appears the young maiden trusts me as a friend. Although, speaking as a man of passion, I am unsure if this pleases me or not." Oliva tilts her head at him, confused by his choice of words. Virion rapidly shakes his head while also hiding a blush on his cheeks. "Ah, it is no matter. Now please! Tell me more of your intoxicating promenade! I find it strange that you are dancing for two all by your lonesome." Olivia's eyes widen at Virions question.
"You're familiar with this dance?" she asks, startled at his knowledge. Well, he did have the look of a noble. Maybe he had done this dance before? Virion confirmed Olivia's thoughts by stating that he had, on many occasions, played the gentleman part. Before deciding on a course of action, Olivia tilts her head in thought. "Erm, I don't suppose you'd care to show me the steps?" she asks bashfully before looking away shyly. "I m-mean if it's no trouble! I'm trying to learn it, you see, but it would be so much easier with a partner!" Virion smiles gently at her before laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Virion has never refused a plea from a damsel in need, and he shall not begin now! I will teach you what I know. I will teach you... EVERYTHING!" he says dramatically while giving her a twirl. Olivia beams at him, thanking him that he would teach her the dance proper, lamenting that they had no time now. Virion stated that he would begin training her when they returned from Plegia, which was a promise.
"So, how are you two feeling about going into another war?" Terra asks while Sora and Riku spar with each other. The two had decided to have a friendly spar while they waited for the order to march. After deflecting a blow from Riku by using the shield on his shoulder, Sora turned to look at Terra, signalling a pause in the match.
"If I'm being honest, Terra, I'm scared." Sora confessed before rubbing the back of his head. "The last time we found ourselves in a war, almost everyone died. And then I almost lost Kairi right in front of me. What if the same thing happens here? What if I fail to save anyone?" Terra could only look at the ground in sympathy. He had been told how their first attempt ended in disaster as Terranort, his own possessed body, struck down Ven and Lea before almost doing the same to Kairi before Donald stopped him. Only for all of them to be swallowed up by the Demon Tide. If it weren't for Sora accidentally using the Power of Waking wrongly, they wouldn't have had the second chance.
"I have the same worries, Sora." Riku places a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm supposed to be the big brother of us, not to mention the experienced master, and yet I failed on both of those counts. I won't deny that I have those same feelings about this, but I do know that I won't let them stop me from doing my damnest to keep you both safe." His eyes narrow as he tightens the grip on his spear. "I'm not going to risk losing either of you again." Sora gives Riku a friendly smile at the comment. When they heard that Sora was one step away from vanishing after using the Power of Waking, they had all been on edge that he would one day disappear. Thankfully, that has not been the case, although it has taken this long for his heart to mend the damage from the abuse before he could retake the mark.
"Well, at least this time, you don't have to worry about any teleporting foes in this fight." Terra says jokingly while walking up to the two. "Just stay by each other's side, and we will all come out of this alive. No more splitting up and doing things solo." Terra smiles warmly at the two young Keybearers before turning into a smirk at Sora. "So, when are you going to ask her, Sora?" Sora's face suddenly found itself as red as the sunset on Destiny Island as Riku shot him a similar smirk. But before Sora could answer them, someone entered the scene from the shadows.
"An interesting discussion." A voice suddenly calls out to the three, who instantly feel chills down their spines. They turn to its source to see, to their chagrin, Tharja emerging from the shadows. "I hope you don't mind me joining in, do you?" The three could feel their blood chill at her stare as if she was looking directly into their souls.
"And, what is it you would like to discuss?" Riku asks hesitantly. Ever since she had joined, they had always felt her constantly stare at them, so much so that Kairi, Aqua and Xion would spend their every moment next to them. Tharja gave the silver-head a grin before looking at him.
"A heart that had been tempted down a dark path and yet resists its tempting corruption while using it for the light." She then looks at Terra. "A heart that seethed in darkness, whose flames were ignited and fuelled into a raging storm." Finally, she turns to Sora. "And a heart that, while gleaming with light, hides darkness, so full of rage that it will lash out at all around it in blind fury. How could I not be interested in you three?" The three guardians flinched at Tharja while slowly stepping away from her. Riku and Terra knew she was talking about how they were led down the dark path thanks to Xehanort, but her view on Sora was a minor shock to them both. What did she mean by 'darkness full of rage'? Before Tharja could do anything, though, the three were saved by an unlikely hero.
"Ah-ha! There is Tharja! Gregor is needing to ask questions. Is all right, yes?" Gregor suddenly shouts before rushing over to them. The three send Gregor a silent thank you before quickly exiting, while Tharja turns sour at the mercenary.
"I'm busy." She simply says while waving her hand around. Then, she turns around, ready to go hunting for the three guardians, before Gregor's hand lands on her shoulder.
"Ah! You are not wanting be seen talking to old man like Gregor." Tharja looks at him with suppressed shock. How had her hex not hit him? She quickly says that age has nothing do to with Gregor, just that she was not interested in talking to him, leaving Gregor exasperated. "Oy, little girl have tongue like snake. Very full of evil. Tharja could pretend to not liking old-man smell at least. Then Gregor is less insulted." Tharja felt a little offended at the remark. Sure she was not as tall as Miriel, but she was NOT 'little'! The evil part, though, she liked a lot.
"You could smell like roses and fresh-cut grass. It wouldn't matter." Again, she waves her hand around discreetly, hoping the hex would once again take effect but was exasperated when again Gregor spoke, asking why she hated him. "I said I didn't want to talk to you. ...So why are you still talking?"
"Old man like Gregor only hears what he wants. Very useful skill in life, yes?" he replies bluntly as Tharja looks at him with narrow eyes, albeit with a hint of curiosity. She asks if that was true, a theory burning in her mind. Gregor groaned at Tharja while placing a hand over his eyes, exasperated. "Oy, NOW evil girl is expressing interestedness in Gregor!" Gregor deadpans at her. Tharja, however, had other ideas.
"Maybe your stubbornness would explain why my curses and hexes don't seem to work on you." She spits at him in spite. No one has been able to withstand her hexes apart from Sora and his friends, but she had a theory as to why. But there was no reason why this 'old man' could withstand HER hexes! Gregor, meanwhile, looked at her with a hurt look, asking why she tried to hex him. Tharja, however, just looked away in silent anger. "What does it matter? The damned spell didn't work anyway." Gregor's eye's light up in glee before crossing his arms in triumph.
"Ah-ha! That is why you are being so rude. Gregor is immune to your witchery! I make you look like...how you say? Fool? Amateur? This sort of thing?" Tharja glares at Gregor with a cold stare, failing to make the mercenary flinch. Groaning in pain, she turns around and leaves, completely forgetting about Sora, Riku and Terra, all the why Gregor chases after her, still pestering her with a list of questions for her.
"Is everyone here?" Frederick asks before the Shepherds and Guardians. A series of confirmations echo in the hall, as beyond lay the combined Feroxi and Ylissean army, all armed and ready for war. However, there was one person who was noticeably missing.
"Where is Chrom?" Sumia asks worriedly. No one had seen Chrom since the meeting in the throne room had ended. Not even Basilio and Flavia had seen him. No one wanted to ask Robin either, due to him resting in bed from the fever he had taken. Frederick looked ready to answer her until the doors behind him were flung open.
"I apologise for the wait." Chrom voice echoed from behind as everyone turned to look at him, only to be stunned at his new appearance. While he still had Falchion on his hip, his attire had changed entirely. He is now sporting a dark blue shirt that covers both arms, along with a silver chest plate with several roars of linked armour for manoeuvrability. A white belt wraps around his waist, while another loops over his right shoulder before looping to his left hip. His shoulder pauldron hasn't changed, but his cape no longer is ripped along the bottom, while silver armour wraps around his biceps and arms, with deep blue gloves covering his hands. His trousers have not changed, yet silver greaves with golden trim encase his shins, up to his knees, with similar armour covering his feet. On his back is a silver spear, while on his left arm is the Fire Emblem, acting as a shield.
"Nice duds Chrom." Lea complements the prince as others give their praises to his new look, others wondering when he had the time to learn the spear, judging by the one on his back. Sumia couldn't take her eyes off him as a noticeable blush appeared on her cheeks before Cordelia shook her from her daydreaming.
"Thank you, everyone." Chrom says with a smile before steeling himself. "It is time. After reading over the plans Robin had left, I have decided on a battle plan. It is time we put an end to Gangrel once and for all!" He draws Falchion before thrusting it into the sky with purpose. "We march on Plegia!"
Gangrel could hardly keep the smile off his face as he looked over the field of battle. He had only just gotten news that Mustafa, that bleeding heart pacifist, was dead in the dragon graveyard, along with that eye-sore of an exalt, Emmeryn. How he could jump for joy at the news but now he had gotten even better information. Chrom was leading the Feroxi-Ylissean army right at him! HE could only smile in pleasure at the sudden turn in his luck. A joy that only rose as Aversa approached him with more news.
"The enemy has taken the field milord." She reports as Chrom's army comes into view over the hill in the distance, weapons glinting in the sun. He would admit it was an impressive sight. But they would be mincemeat before his elite troops. "Our scouts report they are in surprisingly good spirits." Now that was odd? Why were they in good spirits? Shouldn't they be devastated and enraged at the loss of Emmeryn? Bah, it made no difference.
"Since when do you trust our scouts?" Gangrel asks in a semi-mocking tone as he walks up to the ridgeline overlooking the field. "Besides, what does it matter? They're armed like beggars compared to us! I could break their ranks as easily as I break wind." He says gloatingly as he looks over his army, easily the same size as the Chrom's force, even if they are poor peasant recruits. "Besides, Aversa, there is a truth about this world, and all the others, that these Ylissean whelps must learn. A man is either strong…" A dark aura engulfs him slightly as a sadistic grin forms on his face. "Or he is Dead!"
"And what of Maleficent? Would we not find the Guardians too much without her?" Aversa asks as she walks off in a different direction, seeing no point in joining the battle. Gangrel looks at her with distance before looking back over the field.
"I care not for her. My power is far superior to that fairy. I don't need her help or her idiotic minion's help." He then looks at her with hate. "And neither do I need help from your kind, Grimleal cur…." Aversa looks at him in anger as the darkness around him intensifies. "As soon as I'm done with the Ylisseans, you are next." Aversa smirks at him confidently before walking off seductively and vanishing into the shadows just as a messenger approaches Gangrel in fear.
"Y-Your Highness! Our troops are laying down their weapons and deserting en masse!" Gangrel's eyes twitch at the news before looking down at his army, seeing how almost seventy per cent are fleeing the field. With only ten per cent remaining as his most loyal and elite and the remainder the Heartless, the outlook no longer looked to be his favour. But that mattered little to him.
"Perfect…" was all he said before he descended the ridge to his army, leaving behind the quivering messenger alone.
"Are you serious!?" Chrom asks in shock as he slams a hand down on an impromptu strategy table. Standing on the other side, Lea and Anna nod at the shocked prince with their looks of amazement.
"The whole Plegian army was vacating the field faster than a bargain sale." Anna says with slight amusement at her joke. "All that's left are the loyal one and Heartless."
"Anna's right. We may not even need the whole Feroxi army to engage. Keep them pinned in, sure, but not anything that will count as icky." Lea comments while rubbing the back of his head. Chrom, for his part, could only look at the three, still in shock, before a smile crossed his face.
"This is fantastic news. As our scouts reported, most of the Plegian army was made of forced conscripts, so this means we won't have to kill any unwitting civilians. But how…." His eyes soon widen before falling soft as he looks at the shield on his arm. "Emmeryn." He says softly to those around him, who all smile sadly at the prince.
"Her words did reach them, just like Mustafa said they reached his own men." Sora says gently while Kairi places a hand on his arm. Sumia places her hand on Chrom's right shoulder as the prince looks sadly at the table before morphing into a smile, remarking how the Plegian also wanted peace deep down in their hearts and that she knew as well.
"I hope she can see this, wherever she is…" he says with a resolution before standing straight, eyes filled with fire. "Today, we put an end to Mad King Gangrel and bring peace back to the land. Shepherds, into formation plan Beta!" Everyone around nods before marching to the front of the Feroxi army as they move to encircle the Plegians. It was time for the decisive battle, but resting on a hill not too far away was Luxu, staring happily at the scene.
"Well, now, this is happening way faster than intended. The war was supposed to last for another year before today. Wouldn't you agree, Aversa?" He asks while turning to his right, seeing the Dark Flyer walking up to him, grinning mischievously.
"Is that not good for us, though? It means that he can come sooner than intended as well." she wraps her arms around him before leaning onto him. "And besides, we have ourselves a nice distraction to watch." Luxu grinned evilly before placing an arm around her, turning his single eye back to the upcoming battle with glee.
"Aye, that we do."
The tension was thick that a sword could split it. On one end, looking down from the hill, the combined Feroxi and Ylissean army stand, ready to charge as the Shepherds stand before them. Below stands the Plegian army, its outer ranks filled with Heartless variations of all forms, while the Plegian elite stands at the centre, eyes dark and crazed. Gangrel himself stood at the very front, the dark aura around him radiating with an alarming might. He glares up the hill before spotting Chrom, already drawn Falchion and planted into the ground.
"Good day, my little princeling! Still dreaming of your squashed sister?" He asks, mockingly up the hill, eagerly expecting Chrom to yell and curse his name. But instead, his only reply was a stone-cold gaze from the prince, who kept Falchion firmly planted in the ground.
"No more talk, Gangrel. Today, you die, and peace returns to Ylisse, Regna Ferox and Plegia." Chrom states like a judge at court. Those around him nodded their head at his remark, hands tightening around weapons, while the guardians sent a wave of cold stare at the Mad King. They had fought their own mad tyrant before, and this would be no different. Gangrel scoffs at Chrom, calling him a hypocrite and that he despises him. Only wanting to cut him down and nothing more, that he knew nothing about peace, adding that no one dose.
"We know more than you ever will, Gangrel." Sora responds surprisingly, catching the Mad King off balance. He had expected Chrom to say that, not the spiky-haired runt. "You claim that no one knows peace, and yet that is only from your point of view! We had to fight, struggle, and endure unwanted pain and hurt to achieve our peace, and we will not just stand around and watch as you threaten to bring it all down."
"Sora is right." Chrom reiterates while placing a hand on his chest. "In the end, I will never be my sister, and I cannot forgive men like you men. Men who see nothing but evil. I may sometimes answer in blood, but that is not all I can do." He grasps Falchion with his right hand before pulling it from the ground and pointing it at Gangrel. "All I have left may be just her words and memory, but it is with those same words and memories that I will lead Ylisse to a bright future. The same one that my sister dreamed of, for that, is now my dream too!" The Shepherds and Guardians all smiled at Chrom and his dedication before returning their glares of steel at Gangrel. Gangrel himself, however, was unamused.
"…Are you done? May I vomit now?" he asks, bored before drawing his own Levin Sword from his back, its shape that of a lightning bolt, sparking with electricity and gleaming in gold. "What a flowery harangue! Men are beasts! Nothing more!" He yells to the skies, insulting Panne and Nowi as they almost transformed right then, only for Frederick and Ricken to pull them back gently. "We fight! We kill! We devour our prey! Beasts do not stand behind beasts, little prince…." He points his sword at Chrom as the aura grows ever darker. "They use each other only so long as it suits their own selfish purpose!"
"Then that is probably why your own men have left you along then, Mad King." Kairi says while holding Destiny's Katana in both hands. "You willingly turn your men into the Heartless, let them run loose and devour anything they see, and yet you still have the gall to call yourself a King? We have met our own fair share of Kings, and we can safely say that they would all agree with Chrom on what needs to be done."
"That's right, Gangrel. You are a poison." Chrom says as he tightens the grip on Falchion, keeping his anger in check. He could see the darkness swirling around Gangrel, knowing that at any moment, he will lose to it. He will not let his anger do this to him. "A festering wound. And I will do what my sister could not. Today, we end this!" He thrusts Falchion above his head and uttered the words everyone had been waiting for. "Shepherds! Feroxies! CHARGE!"
The result was instant. Like a wave, the Shepherds charged down the hill at a rapid pace, the Feroxi army right behind them as Gangrel led his army in return, charging straight at Chrom. Soon, the battle was joined.
Sumia, Cordelia, Xion and Nowi took to the sky to engage the wyvern riders alongside several other Ylissean Pegasus knights. At the same time, the Shepherd flyers unleashed a wave of Sonic Blade against the Wyvern Rider. At the same time, Roxas and Virion gave cover form below, along with several Feroxi archers.
Isa and Vaike lead a charge of fighters towards a Plegian line before breaking through like a battering ram, Isa primarily focusing his rage on any Heartless that came close to him as Vaike let lose on the Plegians. Fredrick, meanwhile, led the Ylissean cavaliers in a wedged-shaped charge against a Plegian formation, with Sully, Stahl and Riku leading their own formations into other parts of the Plegian line, allowing more Feroxi and Ylissean soldiers to pour into the gaps, with Terra and Kellam supporting the cavaliers at every opportunity alongside Feroxi and Ylissean knights.
Meanwhile, Lea, Gaius and Anna sneaked their way through the Plegian ranks, removing high ranking commanders and, in Lea's case, commander Heartless, driving the Plegian troops into disarray as magic rained down from the sky from the mages. Aqua herself was engaged in the middle of the battle, fighting nearby Terra with sword and book in hand. Miriel, for her part, was giving Vaike more cover than most as Ricken sent the occasional spell into the air to assist Nowi and the Pegasus Knights.
At one point during the battle, Sully found herself surrounded by more numbers than even she could deal with until Kellam came to her rescue. Dashing through the lings with Sonic Thrust, he, unfortunately, left himself open to an attack from behind, injuring his leg. So full of adrenalin he was, though, he didn't even feel it, with said assailant falling shortly to Sully's blade after that.
Olivia was dancing her way through the battle, using her skills to not only invigorate the troops around her but also confuse and disorient her foes, who left themselves open to her unique style of fighting. However, she was surprised when two arrow bolts zipped past her and struck down two of her foes, courtesy of Virion, who turned his attention back to the foes above.
However, the main focus of the battle was at the centre, with Chrom engaged in combat with Gangrel. At the same time, Sora, Kairi, Donnel, Lon'qu and Gregor fought around them, determined not to let any Plegian or Heartless interrupt this duel. This was Chrom's fight.
How long will this go on?! Sora thinks to himself as he slashes away another Fighter Heartless. It felt like the battle had raged on for hours at this point. Even the fight at the Keyblade Grave Yard felt faster than this! Then again, time does work differently in other worlds. I feel like I'm about to drop. He looks around the battlefield briefly, noticing the cuts in his clothes and scratches on his armour. He looks over to Kairi, seeing her clothes covered in cuts while patches of dirt and sand cover her legs and clothes. Not that he was much different, or anyone else for that matter.
His eyes suddenly widen, though, as he sees a Plegian Knight come up behind her, spear swinging around. He cries out to her, alerting her to the threat as she spins around and places Destiny's Katana before her as protection. But, unfortunately, the spear hits her and sends her tumbling to the ground as she rolls away, still clutching her weapon as the knight charges at her, eager to finish her off.
NO! Sora yells in his thoughts as he runs at the knight, ignoring the sudden glow from Kingdom Blade as it changes in his hand. He grasps it in both hands, a surge of power filling him as an old and yet familiar move fills his mind as he jumps at the Plegian knight, catching him completely off guard just as he is about to swing his spear down.
"Ars Arcanum!" Sora yells before unleashing the skill on the Plegian, swiftly striking him with six quick and agile strikes, knocking his spear and shield from his hands before unleashing seven slower but more powerful blows on the Plegian, sending him sprawling to the floor. Sora briefs deeply for a moment before rushing over to Kairi and helping her up. "You okay?" he asks gently while looking her over. Thankfully she suffered no injuries, although she now had sand in her hair and on her face.
"I'm fine, Sora. Thanks." She replies with a loving smile before noticing the change in Sora's weapon before going back to back as more Plegians surround them. Looking around, Sora beefily looked over Kingdom Blade and was shocked to see it changed. While the Handel had not changed but gained a silver pommel in the shape of Mickey's head, the golden guard was more elegantly designed while sporting two small silver crows imprinted on them. In addition, the blade had elongated and enlarged, having a curving teardrop look like Falchion, yet in the centre was the same crown emblem that was the 'teeth' of his Keyblade, shining a brilliant sapphire blue that Sora could swear he could see through. All the while, Sora could hear the name of his new weapon ringing in his mind. Or, in this case, old friend as he smiled before gazing at the Plegians.
Good to have you back, Kingdom Key.
"Come, princeling! I've sharpened my sword just for you!" Gangrel screams before bringing his sword down on Chrom, just missing the prince as he rolls out of the way of the strike. Chrom growls in irritation before swapping Falchion for the spear on his back, spinning it around him with years of practice.
"My sister wished for our people to know peace, Gangrel." He says before pointing the spear at Gangrel. "But as long as you draw, breath it can never come. For Ylisse!" He cries before unleashing a Sonic Blade at Gangrel, catching the Mad King off guard. Gangrel growls before summoning a bolt of thunder from the sky, striking the ground near Chrom but just missing him. Chrom retaliates by swinging his spear at his neck, aiming to remove him in one blow, only to miss as Gangrel flips backwards. All the while, the black aura around Gangrel continued to grow, unnerving even Gangrel's most loyal of men.
"You think you can win with maggots as your friends? Pathetic!" Gangrel cries as the aura surrounds him in a tornado of darkness. "LeT me Show YOU, WhAT REAL RAGE IS LIKE!" Chrom gritted his teeth as the black void grew more and more, as Plegian soldiers all around stopped fighting and looked on in fear and shock, several even choosing to flee. All the while, the Heartless leapt into the void, increasing it in size until, finally, the cloud dispersed, revealing Gangrel, as a Heartless.
Only his torso was visible, while the Heartless Emblem blazed like fire on his chest while he leaned his head on his right hand. His chest and arms were red and gold, while the frills around his neck, now sharp like blades, were silver and black. His face was the same, yet purple, with his eyes shaded over by his now conductor like hat while his silver crown sown into it.
"OH YES!" The now Heartless Gangrel screamed in joy as he looked down at Chrom, grinning as he could quickly grab him in his hand and crush him like a grape. "THIS IS THE POWER I DREAMED OF! THE POWER O BRING RUIN TO ALL OF YILISSE! AND I SHALL START WITH YOU, CHROM!" Gangrel moved to grab him, only for a blast of water to hit him in the head, followed closely by wind and fire, while a ball of heavenly light collided with his back. All around Chrom, the Shepherds and Guardians come to his aid, ready to face down the now Heartless King.
Gangrel, however, was not phased at all. On the contrary, smirking evilly, he surprised them all when he suddenly detached his head and came at them like a spinning disk of knives. Terra, Kellam and Frederick rush in front of the group, absorbing the blow wither their shields while Naminé, Lissa and Maribelle struggle to keep them up with healing magic.
Riku took advantage of the distraction and led the remaining cavaliers on a charge at Gangrel's now headless body. Xion led Sumia and Cordelia in a triangle attack from above. However, neither of them counted on Gangrel swinging his arms around like a windmill, nocking the riders off their horses, with Lissa casting a distress glance at Stahl while the flyers broke off from their dive to avoid the spinning arms.
"CLINGING TO EACH OTHER WON'T SAVE YOU MAGGOTS WHEN THE BOOT FALLS!" Gangrel exclaims in glee as he breaks off his head attack and reattaches to his body. "COME! CHARGE AT ME WITH YOUR RAGE! LET YOUR DEATHS BE THE SPARK OF MY NEW BEGINNING!" Chrom grunts in disgust at Gangrel before closing his eyes. What would Robin do in a situation like this?
If you want to bring a giant foe down, strike him when he thinks he has won. Robins words echo in his mind as Chrom looks over Gangrel. He may not have Robin's eyes for strategy, but even he could find a flaw in his opponent's defences when hard pressed. And there was one part on Gangrel that stood out to him. The glowing jewel in his crown. But Falchion did not have the strength it once had to defeat a heartless this large, but the Guardians might. Glancing at them, he noticed Sora's sword had changed its shape and was radiating a light more potent than ever. That was their key to winning!
"Sora, I know how we can beat him!" Chrom called over to him just as Gangrel launched another attack, this one bolts of thunder from his hands, no doubt from the Levin sword he had. Rushing over to him, Sora asked what could help them as Chrom motioned to Gangrel's crown. "The jewel in his crown. That is his weak point. It's the only part of him that doesn't fight back. We will draw his attention. You deal the final blow." Sora was about to protest, saying that it should be Chrom who deals the decisive blow, but a punch from Gangrel put that argument on hold as Sora nodded determinedly at Chrom. Smiling gratefully, Chrom ordered Miriel, Aqua, Ricken, Tharja, Nowi, Roxas and Virion to fire Gangrel, peppering him with magic and arrows. At the same time, Chrom and the rest of the Shepherds charged at Gangrel from below, distracting the fallen king even more, especially as Libra drove his axe into Gangrel back, causing the Mad King to howl in pain as Panne grappled his hand to the ground.
With a nod of her head, she motions to Sora to go as she struggles to hold Gangrel's hand down. Without a word, Sora jumps onto Gangrel's arm and runs up it, Flowmotion activating as he runs towards Gangrel's head. Reaching the shoulder, Sora leaps into the air before diving down onto Gangrel's crown, Kingdom Key piercing right into the jewel on his crown. Gangrel roars in agony and rage as he attempts to shake Sora off his head, who stubbornly refuses to let go as black light shoots out from the jewel. Eventually, Sora rips the blade from the crown, annihilating the gem as Gangrel ceases his thrashing.
"TO HELL…WITH…ALL OF IT…" Gangrel says before his head falls off his body as his arms go limp, black smoke seeping off him like smoke from an extinguished campfire. Chrom walks up to the severed head and looks at Gangrel, and while his eyes are filled with anger, they also have sadness and sympathy. Gangrel could have become a different ruler if not for his father. But, in the end, he was just another victim. "F-FOOL OF…A PRINCE…" Gangrel spoke as he slowly faded away. "YOUR PEOPLE CARE NOT FOR YOU… YOU ARE…ALONE… AS EVERY MAN LIVES AND DIES; …ALONE…" And with that, Gangrel, The Mad King, fades away into nothing. All around, the surviving Plegian warriors toss their weapons aside, losing the will to continue fighting as they leave the battlefield. Noe of the Feroxi or Ylisseans follows, electing to return to their camp as the Shepherds disperse across the area while Chrom stands at the centre, looking where Gangrel breathed his last.
"We've won… Somehow I don't feel like celebrating." He mumbles to himself as Sora and Kairi walk up to him, each with their own tiered looks. Chrom turns to look at them, a question on his mind. "Was this how you felt when you defeated Xehanort?" The two look at each other before smiling sadly.
"Yeah, we did." Sora replied while Kairi rubbed her arm. "Even though we won and saved countless worlds, it still left a sour taste in our mouths. Even if Xehanort was wrong, he started with a desire to protect people. It was the same desire that led him down the path he took. One can't help how things would have been different if he wasn't alone." Chrom nodded at him and was about to comment on his new sword until the sound of Pegasus wings caught their attention. Zooming towards them was Sumia on her Pegasus, both covered in dirt, and her horse was missing a few feathers. Jumping from her mount, she rushed over to Chrom before enveloping him in a bear-like hug. The two wielders of the key smirk at each other before walking away from the pair, only to hide behind a nearby pillar from an old temple.
"Hey, are you-come on, don't cry." Chrom says gently while patting Sumia on the shoulder. Sumia struggles to hold her tears as she buries her head into his shoulder, as she readies herself to apologise, only for Chrom to beat her to it.
"Don't apologize, Sumia." He says gently while an idle hand brushes the back of her head. "I've been so worried about everyone else lately… My sister, our party, our friends, my people… The list is endless. That's why it feels, nice, to have someone worry about me." His cheeks soon turn dark as he struggles to look at her. "Especially someone who I… I mean, someone so… So gifted with pegasi." Sumia gives a small chuckle at Chrom attempt at flattery. Clearly, this was an area he was not well versed in. "So many have suffered and died because of my actions. Next to my sister's legacy, I feel I'm already a disappointment…."
"But that's not true!" Sumia exclaims while placing a hand on his cheek, ignoring the blush forming on her face. "Everyone fought so hard for you! Why would we all do that for a man we didn't believe in?" Chrom looked at Sumia with touched eyes as he already could feel his doubt and pain slipping away.
"I see your point…" He admits with a light laugh. "Thanks, Sumia. You always help me see the… brighter side of things." The two fell into a comfortable silence as the sounds of light winds and birds echoed around them. Looking around, Chrom steeled himself for what could possibly be the most significant decision of his life. Taking a deep breath, he looks at Sumia with cheeks ever-glowing red.
"Sumia." He gently asks as she looks at him with interest. "I'm far from a perfect man, and I know you can do better. But whenever you're close… you give me strength." He could practically feel the fire in his cheeks as he steadied his nerves. "So what I want to ask is… Will you be my wife?"
Sumia's eyes widened the moment the question left his lips. Instantly she felt a surge of emotion flow through her veins, happiness, joy, exhilaration, so much that she could not pin down what exactly she was feeling. But she already knew what her answer was. "YES!" she cries in joy as she wraps her arms around Chrom neck while tears fly from her eyes. The laughter in Chrom's voice as he proceeded to spin her around could tell anyone just how happy he was at her answer, least of all to the two guardians who had watched the entire confession.
"Congratulations, Sumia." Kairi says quietly as she and Sora watch on with warm smiles from the shadow of the pillar. Then, not wanting to intrude any longer, the two sneak away from the happy couple before walking through the ruins of the old temple they fought by. "What do you think this was a temple to?" She asks Sora, who seems to have his mind elsewhere, judging by the now thoughtful look on his face. "Sora?" Kairi's question seemed to break Sora out of his trance as he took a deep breath before turning to look at her, eyes determined yet filled with no steel.
"I've been thinking about this for a while, Kairi. Ever since we came here, it was clear that we would not be going home anytime soon. But now it feels like we will never go home." Kairi's eyes darken at the thought. The possibility of them never seeing Destiny Islands, their family or friends ever again placed a heavy weight on her heart until she felt Sora place a hand on her shoulder. "Kairi, remember how we said we would never be apart, that we would always be with each other for the rest of our lives?"
"Of course I do, Sora. It was the vow we swore when we had the Paopu Fruit a second time. And even then, it was a promise we made back when we met Roxas and Naminé before they returned to our hearts." Sora's small and shy smile at her answer sent her mind wandering. Where was he going with this? That was until she saw him putting his hand into his pocket and pulling out a small blue box.
"We have managed to keep that vow alive, but now, I want to expand on it. To make it more than a promise between us. That's why Kairi, I want to ask you if…" he opens the box to reveal a ring. It was a simple design, with a small white diamond in the shape of a star on silver, but its sight sent her heart flutter. A flutter that shot to the heavens when Sora finished his question. "Will you marry me?"
At that point, any track of thought she could come up with went blank. Here he was, the boy she loved more than anything in the worlds, proposing to her in the middle of a ruined temple. While the timing of his proposal could have happened in a more romantic setting, at this point, she didn't care. He asked her the question. And she had only one answer for him and one answer alone.
"Yes." She quietly says as tears of joy run down her face before she envelops Sora in a hug, one he returns with equal vigour. After staying together for a few seconds, they separate to allow Sora to put the ring on her finger while Kairi beams at him happily. They may be far from home, away from loved ones and friends, but they are here, and more importantly, together. No matter what the future threw at them, they would endure it.
And there we go! The Plegian arc is done, Sumia and Chrom are getting married and Sora has popped the question to Kairi. I'll admit the confession scene there may not have been the most extravagant, but i tried. Next up will be after a 1 year time skip before we start the Valm arc.
EDIT! MY BAD! ITS A 2 YEAR TIME SKIP! (Thank you guest review for brining it up! As for your other question, i will only say wait and see. No sense in spoiling the mystery now is there?)